MICROCURRENT How it works

The words technology and therapeutic are not often combined in one sentence as we have a tendency to perceive the word therapeutic as natural, healing, and relaxing; none of which seem to be intuitively. However, new technology available to the skin therapist could not be more therapeutic.

The short Answer:

As the skin ages, skin cells lose much of their natural energy ATP, (similar to a battery loosing its charge) which leads to a breakdown of collagen (the main protein of connective tissue) and elastin (the main ingredient in the skin that allows it to stretch without leaving stretch marks). Every year after age of 25 we are loosing about 1-1,5% of the collagen what makes the most of our dermal layers. When the value of the skin is lost we start to see sagging skin and deep wrinkles. Beneath the skin, some of the facial muscles, become increasingly contracted over the years of facial expressions, and others become elongated over years of age and gravity.

Microcurrent and LED light is only one known technology what triggers the body’s natural skin enhancement chemicals at a cellular level, and can increase the levels of ATP to a 500% . The cells of the body are literally being recharged back.

With each Microcurrent Treatment ATP levels are, stockpiled or stored. This is the reason why results are cumulative, and become better and better as a series of treatments progresses. The dramatic increase of ATP levels allows muscles to stay in the “re-educated “ positions for longer periods of time, and the increased blood circulation improves function, condition, color, and overall health of the skin, underlying tissues, and muscles.

The Long Answer

Microcurrent is a low level of electrical current that mirrors the body’s own natural current, sub-sensory in most cases. Its proven and accepted properties and potential range in application – from wound healing , muscle rehabilitation, and macular degeneration of the eye to lymphodema -- continue to assist medical practitioners with amazing results.

Most microcurrent applications and results, whether they are medical or esthetic rely on the same mechanisms of actions.

Muscle re-education is most related to the term “facial toning”. There is 32 different muscles of the face that are manipulated during the average microcurrent treatment.

True microcurrent uses less that 500 microamperes(Ua) and because of its low intensity cannot cause visible muscle contractions.

The 1982 Cheng study proves that ATP levels were increased by 500% on tissue that was treated utilizing less that500 Ua The study also indicated that ATP levels plummeted and depleted when treated with more than 500 Ua (visible muscle contractions.)

Bearing this study in mind, it is understandable why individuals who use EMS-type devises, such as some hand -held devices seen on TV that use as much as 5000 Ua do receive some instant tone, however, when used cumulatively, create flaccid and lifeless muscles that are completely void of ATP

The idea that ATP can be stockpiled or stored is the reason why microcurrent treatments results are cumulative and become better as a series of treatments progresses.

Aside from muscle re-education and massive increases in ATP levels, microcurrent has other proven benefits for esthetic applications. Emil Y Chi, PhD, director of the University Of Washington‘s department of pathology, performed clinical studies using microcurrent equipment. He notes,” The fact that technology works in harmony with the body is evident. Examination of the skin tissue treated with microcurrent showed a 45% increase in the number of elastin fibres in the dermis, and the length if the fibres on average doubled. The collagen thickness in the connective tissues increased 10%, the numbers of blood vessels increased by 35%. The application of microcurrent to skin and tissue produced a firmer and tighter feeling on the skin surface.

Many of the studies detailing the massive increase in speed regarding wound healing refer to ATP as one of the attributing factors. The other attributing factor is an increase in blood circulation. Blood circulation has everything to do with the function, condition, color, and overall health of the skin, as underlying tissue.

Chi’s 2003 study performed at the University of Washington further notes a 35% increase in blood circulation

Limphatic drainge is a very overlooked treatment in esthetics, although it has been gaining momentum in recent years. Clinical studies performed using microcurrent at Hong Kong’s Tuen Muen Hospital in 1988 indicated that Limphatic by 28% on post-cancer patients suffering from lymphodema.

Chi’s 1999 study also proved that the redness, irritation, and inflammation of surgically traumatized tissue could be decreased significantly when treated with microcurrent. Related to this, the buildup of hardened collagen that makes up scar tissue was noted to be 3 to 5 times less in tissue treated with microcurrent. Further studies also indicated an amazing dispersion of existing scar tissue when treated with microcurrent. This indicates that in the realm of plastic surgery, you can see the obvious place for microcurrent technology. By administering a series of treatments before surgery, muscle and tissue condition is maximized, inclusive of an excessive storage of ATP. Microcurrent treatment of sutures and trauma post-op decreases the down time by reducing inflammation, redness and irritation, while enhancing the healing ability and minimizing scar tissue. Post-surgery treatments also are vital to maintain the results of the surgical work.

In terms of product penetration, microcurrent offers specific Iontophoresis that allows superior penetration of water based products into the skin. The idea that the electrical current emits from one probe and returns to the other allows specific focus on products penetration,